Device for and method of systematically embellishing fabrics



C. C. COBLE March 27, 1934.

DEVICE FOR AND METHOD OF SYSTEMATIGALLY EMBELLISHING FABRICS Filed May 3, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig 4. 1813 30181.9

ISnnentor;

C/(QEL E5 C. C0515:

. r Gttorneg.

March 1934- c. c. COBLE 1,952,365

DEVICE FOR AND METHOD OF SYSTEMATICALLY EMBELLISHING FABRICS Filed May 5, 1933 '2 Sheets-Sheet 2 3m entor; CHQELES C. COBLE:

Gttorneg Patented Mar. 27, 1934 DEVICE FORIAND METHOD. OF SYSTEM- ATICALLY EMBELLISHING FABRICS Charles C. Coble, Richmond, Ind.

Application May 3, 1933,. Serial No. 669,188

'7 Claims.

The object of my present invention, broadly stated, is the provision of an easily manipulated device for forming light weight fabrics into closely related tufts, or piles, or otherembellishments, and permanently attaching a flat textile backing thereto, for retaining the fabric in its embellished condition.

More specifically stated, the object of my invention is the provision of a device for systematically gathering or crushing a section of fabric material into a plurality of uniform cone shaped tufts, with means whereby each pile or tuft will, when completed, be secured with its contour and projection fixed in usable form, said means presenting a section of relatively heavy textile material having a plain surface and formed of pro-stretched or comparatively non-stretchable material, for supporting the embellished material and preserving its artistic contour, and having means for securing said backing to the emtages of my invention will be apparent to thosewho are familiar with the machines and devices relating to giving to fabric its artistic effect, by pufiing or crushing or otherwise changing and embellishing' its normal contour.

One manner of carrying out the construction of my device is'shown in the accompanying drawings, in which-Figure 1 is a topplan view of a portion ofmy device.

Figure 2- is a plan view of the under-side of my device, showing the construction thereof.

Figure 3 is a top plan of a portion of my device, showing the movable parts in open position.

Figure 4 is a bottom plan view showing a portion of my device, and showing the manner of. connecting the movable parts thereof whereby theymay have only a limited movement.

Figure 5 is a cross section of my device, as taken on the line 55 of Fig. 1, showing the movable parts in open position.

Figure 6 is the same as Fig. 5, except that it shows the movable parts in closed and locked position.

Figure '7 is a plan view showing the mainv movable parts in open position, and showing a portion of fabric supported thereon.

Figure 8 is a plan View, showing the movable parts in open position, showing a portion. of fabric supported thereby, and showing two sets of rods resting on the fabric, with each set of saidrods at an angle different from that of the other set.

Figure 9 is the same as Fig. 8, except that said movableparts are shown in closed position.

Figure 10 is a top plan view of the completed product.

Figure 1 1 is a cross section of the same, as. taken on the line 1lll of Fig. 10.

And Figure 12- is the same, except that it is taken on the line l2l2 of Fig. 10.

Similar indices designate like parts throughout the several views.

In order that the construction, the operation, and the several advantages of my invention may be more fully understood and appreciated, I will now take up a detailed description thereof, in which I will set forth the same as fully and as comprehensively as I may.

In the drawings, numerals 1 and'2 denote the side members of the enclosing or supporting frame, the same being the front and the rear, respectively; and numerals 3 and 4 denote the end members-0f the same.

Secured in-each of the corners formed by said frame is a leg, as the legs 10, ll, 12, and 13, with their lower ends resting on a floor.

Connecting the intermediate portions of' themembers 1 and 2, are a plurality of cross-bars 5, 6 and'l. Diagonal bars 8 are also provided; and stay bars 9 connect the ends of the frame with their respective cross-bars 5 and '7. Said bars are mitered together at their junctures, in order to providea rigid construction. The upper edges of the members 5, 6 and 7 are on a plane a short distance below theupper edges of the frame; and the upper edges of the members 8 and 9 are ona level slightly below the upper edges of the members 5, 6 and 7, which. is for a purpose hereinafter made apparent.

Resting slidably on the members 5, 6 and 7, and fitting movably between the end members 3 and 4, are a plurality of slats l l, each having its upper portion chamfered longitudinally thereof, as shown in Fig. 5. Said slats 14 are all identical with each other, and when. spaced apart they occupy the entire space between the members 1 and 2.

Extending longitudinally of the frame, and secured inward from the front member 1 thereof, is the supporting-bar 15, on which is mounted a plurality of catches 16, which when the slats 14 are contacted together, on the opposite side of the frame, may be turned upwardly and caused to engage said slats in closely clamped condition, as that shown in Fig. 6, or when said catches are turned downwardly, as in Fig. 5, said slats may be moved to spaced position, as in Fig. 5.

Secured in and equally spaced apart, and projecting upwardly some distance above each of said slats, are a plurality of pintles 1'7, the same having rounded heads at their upper ends, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6.

Said slats 14 have a limited movement laterally, with relation to each other, by means of the slotted links 18 which are attached to their underside, as shown in Fig. 4. Each of said links is secured at one end to a slat 14, by means of a headed pin or screw 19, with its other end portion slotted and overlapping the slat next thereto, whereby its movement is limited by a pin or screw 20 adapted to slide in said slot, and it is secured in said second slat, as shown in Fig. 4.

By this arrangement the slats 14 may be moved only a limited distance apart, as indicated in Fig. 4, but they may be closely contacted together, as shown in Fig. 6.

After being released by said catches 16, then said slats may be instantly and collectively spaced apart by simply pulling outward upon the chains 21, which extend through apertures therefor formed through the side 1, where they are adapted to be manually operated, for the purpose of spacing the slats, from the position shown in Fig. 6, to the positions shown in Fig. 5.

Numeral 22 denotes a plurality of transverse rods, adapted to extend loosely and removably, between the members 1 and 2; and numeral 23 denote the longitudinal rods, extending loosely and detachably between the members 3 and 4, for the purpose hereinafter stated.

Extending upwardly from the front and the rear slats 14, are pins 24, the same being arranged in pairs, there being a pair of said pins located between each two of the pintles 17 which are carried by the front and the rear slats. The members of each pair of said pins 24 are spaced apart as to receive the end portions of the rods 22 therebetween, that is each one of said rods 22 being prevented from lateral movement by a pair of said pins at each end thereof.

Letter A denotes a portion of fabric, usually silk or its equivalent to be operated upon and conditioned as hereinafter set forth. And B denotes a portion of suitable textile cloth, such as cotton goods, or its equivalent, forming a backing for the conditioned fabric A.

In practice the procedure is substantially as follows:

First, the slats 14 are spaced apart, as shown in Figs. 5, 7, 3 and 4. The fabric A is then spread out fiat over the slats, but supported only by the heads of the pintles 1'7, as shown in Fig. 7.

The next operation consists in placing one of the rods 22 between each two of the transverse rows of pintles 17, with each end of each of said rods located between the members of each pair of the pins 24; and then, likewise, placing one of the rods 23 between each two of the longitudinal rows of pintles 1'7, crossing the rods 22 and resting them thereon, and in this instance at right-angles thereto, as in Fig. 8. The next operation consists in closing the slats 14, that is con tacting them with each other, as shown in Fig. 9. This last mentioned operation will cause the material A to crush downwardly between the pintles 17, with the upper portions forming peaks, where the material engages the heads of the pintles 17.

The next operation is to apply steam, or other moistening means to the formulated fabric, whereby all parts thereof will be impregnated therewith, causing the fabric to become set in the shape to which it has been formed by the previous operations.

After the last mentioned operation the backing B is then spread out flat, over the fabric A, but contacting therewith only at said peaks. The next operation is to secure the backing B to the fabric A, and this is accomplished by running a thread C longitudinally of the device, passing it through both the fabric A and the backing B at each of said peaks, which as stated are the only points of contact of the members A and B.

I next remove all of the rods, both longitudinal and transverse withdrawing them endwise until they are fully removed.

And finally, I remove the finished product from the device, after which it will be ready to be employed for lining burial caskets, or for other purposes to which it is applicable.

It is to be understood that I am not to be limited to the particular design which is accomplished by the arrangement shown herein, as various other designs may be attained therewith, as for instance by the omission of certain of the rods, by spacing the rods differently, by placing one set of rods at a different angle from that shown with relation to the other set of said rods, and by many other combinations which may be found desirable. In other words I desire that it be understood that the fabric may be caused to form various designs, other than that shown, simply by a different arrangement of the parts shown and described.

Having now fully shown and described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-- l. A device of the nature set forth comprising a supporting element, a plurality of slats carried by said element and mounted to slide laterally parallel with each other, means for limiting the expansive movements of said slats, means for retaining said slats in position contacting with each other, pintles with rounded heads and arranged in rows parallel with each other both longitudinally and transversely of all of said slats, and means whereby a section of fabric spread over and contacting with said heads may be forced toward said slats at points between said heads.

2. A device for the purpose set forth comprising an oblong frame, means for supporting the frame in horizontal position, a plurality of chamfered slats mounted in said frame and adapted to contact with each other and to slide laterally apart, means for limiting the lateral movements of said slats whereby their distance apart will be uniform by one movement, pintles extending upwardly from each of said slats, and arranged in alinement with each other both longitudinally and transversely, rods adapted to extend across all of said slats and rest between each two rows of said pintles, and rods adapted to extend longitudinally of said slats and rest between each two of said longitudinal rows of said pintles, with said two sets of rods located at angles with relation to the other set of rods.

3. A device for the purpose set forth, comprising a frame, a plurality of slats mounted parallel to each other and adapted to slide into contact with each other, a plurality of pintles extending upwardly from each of said slats for supporting a section of fabric in spaced relation to and above said slats, when said slats are spaced apart, means whereby said slats may all be contacted with each other and locked in their contacting relation, means for pressing said fabric downwardly toward said slats and entirely around each of a plurality of said pintles whereby the fabric will be formed into upwardly tapering cones to be so secured as to retain the fabric in its conical or ornamental condition after it has been removed from the forming device.

4. A device for embellishing fabric, comprising a frame supported in horizontal position, a plurality of slats each having its upper portion chamfered longitudinally and extending parallel with each other and extending between two members of the frame, the combined width of said slats being less than the width of the inside of the frame, means carried by said frame for slidably supporting all of said slats, slotted links contacting with the under sides of all of said slats, one end of each of said links being rigidly secured to one of said slate and slidably connected with the slat next thereto and providing means whereby said slats may all be contacted with each other but permitting them to be spaced a limited uniform distance apart by simply moving the outermost slats into contact with their respective sides of said frame, a clamp for holding all of said slats in contact with each other, pintles extending upwardly from all of said slats and arranged in parallel rows both longitudinally and transversely, a plurality of rods each of which is adapted to be placed between each two parallel longitudinal rows of said pintles and adapted to be centered with relation thereto by reason of the channel formed by the chamfered portions of said bars, a second set of rods each of which is adapted to be placed between each two parallel transverse rows of said pintles, and means for retaining each of the transverse rods in centered spaced relation with two rows of said pintles between which it is located.

5. A device for embellishing fabric, comprising a frame formed by side members and end members, cross-bars connecting the side members of the frame, with the upper edges of said cross-bars located below the upper edges of the frame, a plurality of slats supported slidably on said crossbars and prevented from longitudinal movement by the end members of the frame, the total width of said slats being less than the space between the side members of the frame, means for slidably connecting said slats whereby they may be spaced an equal distance apart by the movement of an outer one of said slats into contact with its side member of the frame and whereby the reverse movement thereof will cause all of said slats to contact with each other, means whereby all of said slats may be clamped rigidly together, a plurality of fabric supporting elements arranged in rows both laterally and longitudinally and extending above each of said slats, and a plurality of elements adapted to extend independently of each other across the frame both longitudinally and laterally thereof and removably positioned between each two of the rows of said supporting elements for the purpose set forth.

6. A method of embellishing fabric, which consists in spreading a section of fabric over a series of upwardly projecting pintles, then causing the pintles to move toward each other for a limited distance, applying means for pressing the fabric downwardly entirely around and between each two of said pintles for applying an artistic coneshaped contour to the fabric, applying steam to said fabric, spreading a section of backing material over said contoured fabric whereby it will contact only with said fabric at points of its contact with said pintles, attaching the backing to said fabric at said points of contact, removing said means for pressing the fabric downwardly around said pintles, and then lifting the product from the embellishing means, all substantially as shown and described.

7. As improvements in the art of embellishing fabric, the herein described method which consists, in connection with a series of upwardly extending projections, in spreading a portion of fabric to be embellished over and in contact with said projections, causing said projections to be moved toward each other thus causing said fabric to be suspended loosely between said projections, pressing the unsupported portions of the fabric downwardly at acute angles around each of said projections, spreading a section of backing material flat over said fabric whereby it will contact therewith only at the points of contact of the fabric with said projections, securing the backing to said fabric only at the points of contact of the fabric with said projections by means of thread run therethrough, and then lifting the product from the embellishing means, all substantially as shown and described.

CHARLES C. COBLE. 

